Proof that I May Still Be a Child...Despite What the State of California Thinks!

Day 66: Friday, September 10, 2010
The Children's Museum in Indianapolis

At long last we made it to the reason we came to Indiana in the first place: The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. Although I had heard it was the largest children's museum in the world, I was not enthused. I know I am a good 99% nerd, but showing excitement for a children's museum seemed too embarrassing. I was more fascinated with the stunning architecture of the facades a couple blocks away.But when we rounded that corner to approach the Museum, Matthew and I screamed: him with delight, me with shock. There were dinosaurs breaking out the building up ahead! And more dinosaurs streaming in through the glass entrance! That was the moment we knew we would enjoy our experience.

First of all, it was enormous. Absolutely enormous. We were so thankful that we were visiting on a weekday because the elaborate system of lines suggested they expected quite a few visitors. The first exhibit that we were drawn into was entitled Dinosphere: Now You're in THEIR World.

Rounding a corner, we entered a large dome, where the lights went dark blue and we were inundated with sounds of another world. Giant dinosaurs dwarfed us, carefully arranged in realistic scenarios, forcing the visitors to unlock the dynamics of a time gone by. For instance, one dinosaur was shown devouring another one, begging the question of whether the consumer was a hunter or mere scavenger. Well, paleontologists, in examining the skeletons, ascertained that the consumer was a scavenger, owing to the multitude of broken bones and injuries she had sustained. She even had a brain tumor!

The exhibit was colorful, interactive, educational, and incredibly kid-friendly. There was even a section where we could observe actual paleontologists at work and question them about their work.

The other exhibits we enjoyed were Fireworks of Glass, Carousel Wishes and Dreams, ScienceWorks, the Biotech Learning Center, All Aboard!, and Take Me There: Egypt.

We were awed by a tower of glass sculptures, a large water system in which to build and race boats, a musical system of pool balls, and pictures and videos depicting life in Egypt. We even learned a few words of Arabic.

Perhaps my favorite part was the water clock that dominates the main floor. I could have stood for hours, gazing up at that tower, remarking at the bobbing pieces, the altering water pressure--the physical manifestation of time, constantly in flux.

As one final addendum, one of the exhibits was dedicated to Barbie. The Gift Shop prominently featured the most frightening and disgusting thing I have ever seen. I could not get out of there fast enough.